Separation of minerals



Patented June 2, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FREDERICK G. MOSES, OF NEW YORK, RAYMOND W. HESS, OF BUFFALO, AND ROEERT L.

PERKINS, OF EAST AURORA, NEW YORK,

ASSIGNORS TO THE BARRETT COMPANY, OF

NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY SEPARATION OF MINERALS No Drawing. Application filed May 20,

This invention relatesto the separation of minerals and the concentration of ores by flotation processes, and is particularly directed to such separation and concentration carried out with the utilization of certain thiobiazoline compounds, or derivatives thereof, as flotation or mineral collecting agents.

According to the present invention, improved results can be obtained in the separation of minerals and the concentration of ores by carrying out the flotation operation with the addition to the ore or mineral pulp of a thiobiazoline sulfhydrate body or compound which embodies within its composition the following probable atomic grouping: I

L nt-s SH Bodies or compounds containing this grouping may also be designated as deriva- 5 bon radical, particularly an aryl group and especially an aryl group of the benzene series. 5mercapto-3-phenyl-2-hydro-1.3.4-thiodiazole, i. e., phenylthiobiazoline sulfhydrate, is particularly important. The thio- 4o biazoline sulfhydrates may be prepared by methods described in chemical literature.

In carrying out the flotation process, the flotation agent comprising the thiobiazoline sulfhydrate compound may be incorporated with the ore or mineral pulp in any suitable 1927. Serial No. 193,059.

manner and at any suitable time which will insure a satisfactory flotation operation. For example, it may be introduced in the free state or as a salt into the mill in which tration, they ordinarily possess insufficient frothing qualities and are therefore generally used to advantage in conjunction with any suitable or well known frothing agent, e. g., pine oil, crude turpentine, coal tar acid, etc. They may be also sometimes used to advantage in connection with other flotation agents.

They may be used in the pure or purified state; and, in general, they may be also employed in the crude or impure state.

The process of the present invention may be carried out in any suitable apparatus as, for example, those of the pneumatic type such as the Callow cell, or those in which the air is incorporated with the mixture by agitation such as the J anney apparatus, or the like.

It is of advantage in some cases, as with certain copper ores, to subject the ore pulp to the action of an amount of alkalisufiicient to give it an alkaline reaction before subjecting it to flotation with the aid of the flotation agents of the present invention. The alkali may be caustic alkali such as caustic soda, or an alkaline salt such as soda ash, or it may be calcium oxide or hydrate.

In the differential separation of various minerals, such as zinc blende from associated minerals, the presence of an alkali metal cyanide, or of copper sulfate or other salts, is sometimes advantageous.

The amount of flotation agent required to be used in the flotation process will vary, it depending partly on the character and composition of the ore, partly on the particular thiobiazoline sulfhydrate compound employed, and partly on other factors. Ordinarily, one-sixth to one-half pound of the flotation agent per ton of dry ore will besuflicient, but larger or smaller amounts than this may be used.

to pass through a LO-mesh screen. The

ground pulp was diluted with suificient water to give a pulp containing about 16 percent solids and subjected to flotation in a Janney mechanical apparatus with the addition of 0.0625 parts of phenylthiobiazoline sulfhydrate (equivalent to one-fourth pound per ton of ore) previously dissolved in an equiv- V vention is not liniitedto-the use of the par alent amount of normal caustic soda solution. Themixture was agitated for 30 minutes during which time about 0.06 parts of pine oil was introduced. 26.1 parts of a concentrate assaying 16.1 percent copper was obtained which is a recovery in the concentrate of 75.75 percent of the copper. The tailings assayed 0.28 percentcopper. It will be noted that the equivalent of about 19.1 tons of ore was required to give one ton of concentrate.

It will thus be noted that the present invention contemplates the utilization as flotation agents in the separation of minerals and the concentration of ores of thiobiazoline sulfhydrate compounds; that said flotation agents may be incorporated in or with the ore or mineral pulp at any suitable time or in any suitable manner; that they may be used in the free state or as salts or in admixture with one another or in solution, suspension or dispersion. in any suitable solvent or medium; and that they may be used in conjunction with other flotation agents or with frothing agents, or with both.

The present invention is of more or less general application to the treatment of difi'erent kinds of mineral substances, both natural and artificial, by flotation. g

It will be further understood that the inticular agents or ingredients mentioned in theexample and that other agents, particularly other flotation agents of the class specified, can be used.

We claim:

1. In effecting the separation of minerals, the process which comprises incorporating with themineral pulp a thiobiazoline sulfhydrate compound which embodies wlthin its composition the following probable grouping: N N

Q H(|J S CSH and subjecting the resulting mixture toa froth flotation operation.

2. In effecting the separation of minerals, the process which comprises incorporating with the mineral pulp a thiobiazoline compound corresponding with the followlng probable formula:

where R denotes a monovalent hydrocarbon radical, and subjecting the resulting mixture to a froth flotation .operation.

3. In effecting the separation of minerals, the process which comprises incorporating with the mineral pulp a thiobiazoline compound corresponding with the probable formula:

where R denotes an aryl group, and subjecting the resulting mixture to a froth flotation operation.

4. In effecting the separation of minerals, the process WhlCll comprises incorporating with the mineral pulp a thiobiazoline compound corresponding with the probable formula:

C-SH

grouping N N Hid and subjecting the resulting mixture to a froth flotation operation. 7. In effecting the separation of minerals,

the process which comprises incorporating with a copper sulfide'ore pulp a. thiobiazoline compound corresponding with the following probable formula:

where 'R denotes a monovalent hydrocarbon radical, and subjecting the resulting mixture to a froth flotation operation. I

8. In effecting the separation "of minerals, the process which com rises incorporating L phenylthiobiazoline sul ydrate mat a copper sulfide ore pulp and subjecting the resulting mixture to a froth flotation operation.

In testimony whereof we aifix our signatures. '10 FREDERICK G. MOSES. RAYMOND W. HESS.

ROBERT L. PERKINS.. 

